Abstract

A new model equation describing weakly nonlinear long internal waves at the interface between two thin layers of different density is derived for the specific relationships between the densities, layer thicknesses and surface tension between the layers. The equation derived and dubbed here the Gardner–Kawahara equation represents a natural generalisation of the well-known Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation containing the cubic nonlinear term as well as fifth-order dispersion term. Solitary wave solutions are investigated numerically and categorised in terms of two dimensionless parameters, the wave speed and fifth-order dispersion. The equation derived may be applicable to wave description in other media.